A LANGA mother and her three young children died when they were trapped inside their home during a devastating fire in the Siyahlala Informal Settlement.
The fire broke out around 4am on Monday, when Asavela Seti, 38, and her one-year-old twin daughters and a five-year-old son were unable to escape their home as blaze swept through the community.
An estimated 15 structures were destroyed.
Heartbroken sister Pumza Seti said the incident has left the family devastated.
“We got the news after 4am that my sister’s place is burning and that she and her children were still inside.
“I also live in Siyahlala Informal Settlement, so I am not far from her and we rushed to her place. It is very bad and we are all sad. This is devastating for our family, it is a lot on top of us at the moment, losing our sister and also her children.
“Asavela was a single mother and unemployed but she was the most kind-hearted person. She was a good person. We lost a very kind person and we are going to miss her.”
Community leader Andisa Velaphi said they were not certain of the cause of the fire.
Velaphi said: “I got a call in the early hours of the morning from a resident who said that a fire broke out and when I arrived on the scene, the firefighters were still busy fighting the fire.
“They said that there is an adult and three children who passed away in the fire.
“Usually this time of the year, we have fires breaking out in Siyahlala informal settlement.”
Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, said several people were displaced.
"Just after 4am on Monday December 1, we received calls of structures alight, with people trapped inside, in the Siyahlala Informal Settlement, in Langa. Several crews were on scene and firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze by 6.30am," Carelse said.
“Initial estimates are that 15 structures were destroyed, leaving several displaced. Sadly, an adult female and three minors were found with fatal burn wounds under the debris."
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that Langa police registered an inquest for investigation after the bodies of a woman and three children were found among the debris in the early hours of Monday morning.
Twigg said: “The victims were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The cause of the fire is yet to be established.”
Anyone with any information on the incident is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.